On screen, Shebz Miah’s character, mechanic Kammy Hadiq’s life has hit rock bottom. He has embarked on a hard-hitting story about homelessness, 18 months after joining Emmerdale. This week viewers discovered that Kammy has been sleeping in a barn and hiding his homelessness from friends. Even worse, he is wrongly suspected of being the arsonist who’s been causing trouble at the farm. Despite his innocence, he had considered torching his car – which he sometimes kips in – for the insurance money.
And in last night’s episode (Thursday) he confessed the extent of his problems to best mate Vinny Dingle, who offered him a temporary bed at his house. Shebz, 28, tells The Mirror, says of the storyline: “I hope Kammy’s predicament will help reassure those who are hiding [the fact] they are homeless, there is no need to feel alone. Help is out there.”
During the coming weeks, Emmerdale will delve into Kammy’s backstory to reveal why his circumstances are so dire. Meanwhile, Shebz is honoured to be asked to highlight homelessness, which currently affects more than 100,000 people in the UK according to The Salvation Army.
View 5 ImagesEmmerdale is set to tell the story of the hidden homeless. Pictured: Kammy
And this doesn’t account for the people who hide it, like Kammy. To help with accuracy, Shebz spoke to homeless dad, Jamie Parsons, 57, who also hid his plight from his friends. He says: “He was the same as Kammy. Everything on the surface was normal, only he didn’t have anywhere to live and couldn’t tell anyone. It upset me that he couldn’t confide in anyone. It was his pride that was stopping him.”
Grateful to Jamie for sharing his experience, he adds: “He has given me the tools to try and do this story justice.” He hopes watching the plot unfold on Emmerdale, will encourage people like Kammy to seek help and help break down taboos about homelessness.
He says hidden homelessness is more common than we realise, adding: “They will no doubt have a 9-5 job, but as soon as they walk out the door, they have no home to go to. Hiding being homeless can make people so vulnerable but hopefully this will encourage them to find the strength to seek help.”
As the soap’s first ever Pakistani Muslim, Shebz is very proud of his Emmerdale role. Until he found out he had the part in December 2024, he’d been attending auditions while working at his local Co-op. Touched by the support from Emmerdale fans, he says: “It’s been so humbling when not only South Asians but working-class kids in Bradford tell me how amazing it is to see someone like me on the show.
View 5 ImagesShebz Miah attends the Inside Soap Awards 2025(Image: Getty Images)
“On one occasion, I was at the Mosque and after praying, a kid came up as he’d recognised me. Out of curiosity, I asked how he’d got into watching Emmerdale. He explained he had been going through a very rough patch, but one thing that had really helped him was sitting with his mum, a soap fan, each evening and watching Emmerdale together. Seeing me in the soap, he said, had really resonated with him. It was such a heartwarming moment. I hope working class kids and people of colour do realise that by seeing me on screen, it’s not impossible and they can do amazing things as well.”
Praising his parents for supporting him, calling his experience “surreal,” he adds: “If I had a pound for every time someone says ‘we hated you at the start but now you are our favourite character,’ I’d have enough money to make my own spin off show!”
Meanwhile, fans are left wondering how Kammy’s girlfriend Belle Dingle will react to his homelessness. Shebs says: “Viewers will find out lots of things they didn’t know about Kammy in the weeks to come. It will affect his relationship with Belle and they will struggle. But hopefully there will be rainbows at the end.”
Former delivery driver Jamie Parsons was too embarrassed to admit to family and friends he was homeless, instead dressing smartly and acting like the life and soul of the party. Dad-of-two Jamie, 57, became homeless in 2021 after splitting from his partner. Unable to find the cash for a rental in London, the former delivery driver slept in his van and later in his mum’s car during the week.
View 5 ImagesJamie with Julie Pell of the Salvation Army, Walthamstow Office, says: “I helped Shebz with the storyline and I am so glad I did.”
At weekends, he’d find a cheap hotel and stay there for a decent night’s kip and breakfast. Only his mum, who lived in sheltered accommodation and couldn’t help, knew the truth. Jamie explains: “I was embarrassed and my pride stopped me from asking for any help.”
Despite working, he couldn’t afford rent, adding: “I probably slept two hours a night. I used to get the night bus, too, just so I had somewhere to go.” Dressing well, to mask his circumstances, he continues: “I’d meet my friends to watch the football and sometimes go to swimming pools to use the showers.”
Eating Pot Noodles, he hated lying to everyone. He says: “When I was alone, I felt terrible.” Eventually, in 2023, Jamie, who had lost his driving job and was suffering from mental health issues, saw his doctor, who advised him to seek help at his local Salvation Army centre, where he told the charity’s officer, Julie Pell, that he was homeless.
With their help, he moved into temporary council accommodation and was able to get cooking equipment and clothes. Jamie says: “The Salvation Army is my safe place and I owe Julie and the charity so much.”
View 5 ImagesJamie’s doctor advised him to seek help at his local Salvation Army centre
Finding the courage to tell his loved ones, he also jumped at the chance of helping with the Emmerdale storyline. He says: “My mum is a big fan of the show and I have also started watching Emmerdale. I helped Shebz with the storyline and I am so glad I did.”
Salvation Army officer, Julie Pell, says: “Sadly, official homelessness figures are just the tip of the iceberg. Many thousands more people are homeless, but like Jamie did, are hiding it because they are afraid of being judged, worried about losing their job, or put off asking for help by a bad experience.
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“I’m so glad that Jamie felt he was able to open up to me. But all of this is happening while the safety net for people at risk of homelessness is broken. I battled for over a year to get Jamie accommodation and other support, but even though he now has a roof over his head he still can’t get a permanent home, as council properties are in desperately short supply. Unless the Government acts urgently, the number of people who find themselves in situations like Jamie’s will grow.”
*If you have been affected by Kammy’s hidden homeless story, help can be found at The Salvation Army.